Box Score TROY, N.Y. -- Erik Sanders led all players with 18 points to lead Skidmore to a 59-40 win over Renssealer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) in Liberty League men's basketball action on Saturday afternoon at East Campus Arena. With the loss, the Engineers fall to 3-10 overall and 0-4 in league action, while the Thoroughbreds improve to 7-5, with a 4-0 conference slate. 

Skidmore led the entire game, but Rensselaer battled through the first half, tying the score on four occasions, including at the half. The Thoroughbreds largest margin was only six in the first half, as strong shooting by Josh Dugas (Monroe, CT / St. Luke's) and Chase Almond (South Kingstown, RI / South Kingstown) kept the Engineers within two for most of the half. Dugas, who shot 4-for-6 in the first, paced all players with nine points, while Almond totaled six points for RPI. 

Rensselaer would tie the game two more times early in the second before Skidmore broke the game open, starting with a 6-0 run that concluded with a free throw by Aldin Medunjanin (New York, NY / Millbrook) at 15:03. Brian Hatcher (Danbury, CT / Immaculate) and Jonathan Luster (Essex, CT / Valley Regional) combined for five points later in the half that pulled the Engineers back within one, 35-34, but a 7-0 run by the Thoroughbreds denied RPI their comeback. Skidmore ended the game on a 10-0 run, with Connor Merrill (Panton, VT / Vermont Academy) capping off the scoring with a 3-pointer with just 13 seconds to go. 

Along with Sanders, Skidmore got double-digit scoring totals from Merrill and Medunjanin, who both finished with 13 points. Merrill led the Thoroughbreds off the boards with a team-high seven rebounds. Skidmore shot 51.1 percent (23-45) from the floor, and outrebounded the Engineers by a 31-26 margin.

" I felt great about our defense all night," said Skidmore coach Joe Burke. "Just a couple minor breakdowns, but outside of that I thought we were disciplined and competed hard. Offensively we had spurts. RPI was able to disrupt us early but we played way more aggressive in the second half.

"Overall was a good weekend especially defensively. Anytime you can play two games and give up a total of 77 points you have to feel good about that. We have another quick turnaround and have to play a very good Clarkson team on the road on Tuesday. We will enjoy this for the night and get back at it tomorrow."